Eastern Promise, our annual multi-arts festival returns this autumn bringing a thrilling mix of live music, performance and visual art to the East End of Glasgow. Now in its ninth year, enjoy a line-up of gigs, performances and art installations throughout the building on the evenings of Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October.

Please note that although the festival is open to all ages, The Panopticon is recommended for audiences over age 16 years old (further details below).

Fifteen-year old Anais Hendricks is smart, funny and fierce. She has also been let down by about every adult she has never met. Sitting in the back of a police car she is taken to the Panopticon, a young offenders institution.

Inside the circular, controlling Panopticon the residents develop intense bonds. All have experienced the failings of the care system, Anais refuses to be defined by it.

Brought for the first time to the stage, The Panopticon is a visceral, bloody and brutal testament to life and friendship. We have a new kind of heroine for the 21st century.

Written by Jenni Fagan. Directed by Debbie Hannan. Age recommendation: 16yrs+ (contains scenes of a sexual nature, violence and drug use).

Fri 4 Oct: Duncan Marquiss: art installation & performance
Coinciding with a new exhibition of artwork that will open at Platform, as part of Eastern Promise, Duncan Marquiss will perform a live soundtrack to moving image works made onsite in and around the spaces at Platform. This live event will merge his dual practice as a musician and a visual artist. Working across film, performance, sound and text, Duncan as an artist has presented his artwork across the UK and internationally, he was the recipient of Margaret Tait Award, 2015–16. Duncan is a member of Phantom Band and has collaborated in the past with members of Mogwai and Faust.

Sat 5 Oct: Lubomyr Melnyk
Following a sold out performance at Platform last year, the ‘Prophet Of The Piano’, Erased Tapes recording artist Lubomyr Melnyk is returning to Platform – this time to our auditorium - on Sat 5 Oct for Eastern Promise.

Rooted in the traditional Classical piano technique - with reminiscences of Liszt and Brahms - his composition introduces many influences from Eastern philosophy, as well as minimal music, combining these into a wonderful mixture of modern romantic harmonies and melodies.

One of the most extraordinary pianists and composers of our day, Melnyk uses his extraordinary piano abilities to generate over 19.5 notes per second in each hand – and is the fastest pianist ever recorded. Since the early 1970s he has produced an astonishing oeuvre of more than 120 works, most for solo or double piano, and has blazed wholly new paths in contemporary music.

A true innovator exploring new directions for contemporary music, this return performance promises to be a mind-opening experience.

Sat 5 Oct: David Allred
Also joining the Saturday night line up is Erased Tapes recording artist, David Allred, who will bring his minimalist, poignant and achingly beautiful music to the evening.Following on from last year’s acclaimed debut with Erased Tapes The Transition — named #17 album of the year by The Sunday Times — the Californian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist returns with The Cell, a mini album released on June 14th 2019.

Meant as a companion piece to The Transition, The Cell picks up where The Transition left off, with David continuing the search to find his place in the world.

“The Cell is about warmly acknowledging the darkness in our individual lives as a strategic method of gaining a deeper understanding of how to move forward in a vastly dissonant world with optimism, harmony and light.”

Sat 5 Oct: Duncan Marquiss (art installation)
Take in a new exhibition of artwork from Duncan Marquiss that opens at Platform as part of Eastern Promise. Featuring new drawings and moving image works, reflecting on the architecture and surroundings of Platform – and considering overlaps between the different uses of the building and blurring lines between binary themes such as public and private, urban and rural.

Further artists to be announced…

While we take every opportunity to ensure the details for Eastern Promise are accurate, we always advise that you contact the event organiser before setting out for the event to avoid disapointment.

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